Senate Bill 1706e1

    CS for SB 1706                                 First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to privacy; prohibiting

  3         merchants from directly observing or using

  4         video cameras or other visual surveillance

  5         equipment to observe customers in dressing

  6         rooms, fitting rooms, changing rooms, or rest

  7         rooms; defining the term "merchant"; providing

  8         penalties; providing an effective date.

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10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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12         Section 1.  (1)  It is unlawful for any merchant to

13  directly observe or make use of video cameras or other visual

14  surveillance devices to observe or record customers in the

15  merchant's dressing room, fitting room, changing room, or rest

16  room when such room provides a reasonable expectation of

17  privacy. As used in this subsection, the term "merchant" means

18  an owner or operator, or the agent, consignee, employee,

19  lessee, or officer of an owner or operator, of any premises or

20  apparatus used for retail purchase or sale of any merchandise.

21         (2)  Any merchant who violates subsection (1) is guilty

22  of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided

23  in section 775.082 or section 775.083, Florida Statutes.

24         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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